Auto air con

[J Chitty]

Hi techies, I have standard air con on my car and wanted to find out if a retro fit of auto air con is possible.

I know you need the controller in place of the standard switch panel and also the solar sensor in the dash top. What I am trying to find out is the status of the wiring loom and any additional controller etc. Anyone got a wiring diagram? PIWIS programming? Someone must know please.

Can"t believe there is an individual loom for every option spec.


Cheers

[mrdemon]

Why would you want it.

Climate is over rated IMO.

You either want ac off to get more bhp and more mpg.

Or when it's hot you want it on.

I always wanted climate when looking for cars, now I would rather just a ac on off switch.

[J Chitty]

Thanks for that MrDemon really helpful and informative post.

[supersport]

But he is right though; it seems likely a hugely expensive operation for not a lot of gain, if climate is a gain at all.

[J Chitty]

Why did I get a Cayman instead of a Boxter? Why did I want GT silver? etc It is all about choice and with secondhand parts being relatively cheap, I wanted to know if it was technically possible, not morally, preferentially or necessary for the good of all human life!

This is the problem with forums, I am interested in doing this and want a TECHNICAL answer not a lesson in what I want FFS.

[mankey]

I personally wouldn't be without the Climate in my car, it's virtually on the whole time.

Reckon a retrofit would be a difficult job. You'd need to pull the dashboard apart to get it all in, feed the pipework and wiring through the bulkhead (I think?). I'm all for a challenge but I really don't think that one's worth doing.

[tr7v8]

Don't know why you'd need pipework? I suspect it will just be the panel, controller & external/internal temp sensors.
What is this on 996, Boxster. TBH I love climate the difference on performance is negligible & it is so much more comfy.

[J Chitty]

Sorry its a Cayman S.

[supersport]

J Chitty said:

Why did I get a Cayman instead of a Boxter? Why did I want GT silver? etc It is all about choice and with secondhand parts being relatively cheap, I wanted to know if it was technically possible, not morally, preferentially or necessary for the good of all human life!

This is the problem with forums, I am interested in doing this and want a TECHNICAL answer not a lesson in what I want FFS.

You are correct this is the problem with forums, they also allow people to be lazy. Why bother actually contacting someone who would know like a specialist and asking, when you can sit at your desk a type something into the internet? The chances are you would more than likely get a straight answer without the lippy responses.

In all seriousness though I suspect it is hard and expensive to do. They days of cars having all the wiring loom for all options in place are long gone and so I would imagine that the connections into the loom for the control panel/sensors etc aren't there. But I am also sure that for a price, and probably a large one, it could be done.

[J Chitty]

Did the online search and spoke to a specialist who said they didn't know anyone who had done it.

Was hoping to find someone with the relevant wiring diagram as i already downloaded the parts cat or someone who has tried.

Me lazy? yep

[Durzel]

There's a multitude of reasons he might want to post on here first and (hope to) get a sensible answer. Maybe he can't make personal calls to specialists in work time, maybe he wants to know if others have done it (so he can rebuke an OPC saying otherwise) how much they paid (so he doesn't get ripped off), etc. What's the point of this forum, or any forum, if not to educate eachother on things?

To answer the OP - you already have aircon so the pipework is already there. I would hazard a guess you would need the dash sensor, switch panel and quite likely PIWIS reprogramming. Can't see any reason it couldn't be done. I suspect it won't be cheap though if Porsche do it.

As a point of note retrofitting PCM isn't a listed retrofit option but OPC's will do it.

Edited by Durzel on Thursday 26th July 18:19

[mankey]

Durzel said:

..... To answer the OP - you already have aircon so the pipework is already there. I would hazard a guess you would need the dash sensor, switch panel and quite likely PIWIS reprogramming. Can't see any reason it couldn't be done.

I stand corrected. I assumed there was nothing currently in the car (inability to read OP's first sentence). I wish you luck, but as you've seen already it's still not easy. Let us know how you get on.

[Zyp]

What's the real difference between a/c and climate?

One of my cars has a/c, the others climate, I really can't tell the difference between them.

[tr7v8]

Zyp said:

What's the real difference between a/c and climate?

One of my cars has a/c, the others climate, I really can't tell the difference between them.

Climate is automatic, you set a temp & the electronics keeps that as the temp. A/C you get hot switch it on, get cold switch it off, get hot switch it on ad infinitum

[Zyp]

tr7v8 said:

Climate is automatic, you set a temp & the electronics keeps that as the temp. A/C you get hot switch it on, get cold switch it off, get hot switch it on ad infinitum

Ah, ok.
That'll be why I have the windows down then

[J Chitty]

Is there a smiley of someone hanging themselves!

Right lets have another go, my car has air con manually controlled with a bar showing temp range. I would like to fit auto air con which shows a pre set temperature for the car to achieve.

I already know that the control panel requires a swap out and also a solar sensor needs fitting. All of which can be bought from a smashed donor car.

Is there anyone else who can fill in the gaps? I will do a write up if I can get a successful outcome and I am sure others will be interested in this as well. This is bread and butter stuff really not sending man to the red planet.

[mankey]

Let's be honest, if it was bread and butter you'd have sorted it already wouldn't you? You're looking to do something you've not done before.

Why don't you look for a TSB on Rennlist or talk to someone on Planet9? They may prove more productive.

[mrdemon]

If it was that big an issue, why did you buy it with out ?

[doozy]

J Chitty said:

Is there a smiley of someone hanging themselves!

Right lets have another go, my car has air con manually controlled with a bar showing temp range. I would like to fit auto air con which shows a pre set temperature for the car to achieve.

I already know that the control panel requires a swap out and also a solar sensor needs fitting. All of which can be bought from a smashed donor car.

Is there anyone else who can fill in the gaps? I will do a write up if I can get a successful outcome and I am sure others will be interested in this as well. This is bread and butter stuff really not sending man to the red planet.

At the risk of upsetting you further, i have no idea whether it is technically possible or indeed feasible. However, i ran a Cayman with out auto air con for 4 years, I now have a Cayman with man air con and i can honestly say i don't notice the difference.

[J Chitty]

Just something I now miss when my 14 year old dog car has it and it works perfectly. Perhaps I should sell the car as it doesn't have it. Mine was ex demo so the spec was set and it ticked all of my other boxes.

I have registered with Renn and planet 9 so may find an informed answer there.

I do find it interesting that people post without reading the original Q and also that the reason for the Q becomes the topic. I guess those who have nothing to add feel the need to discuss. All I was trying to achieve was a comfort mod using second hand bits if I could get the background Knowledge from an informed tech.

Porsche seems to create a bunch of Fanboys that think the OPC is the only port of call. Maybe they should open their eyes to the fact it is a company that has the share holders interests at heart and forget that it is a machine with in some cases some flaky engineering.